Digital Commons Network^™

A Human Papillomavirus-Independent Cervical Cancer Animal Model Reveals Unconventional Mechanisms Of Cervical Carcinogenesis, Chunbo He, Xiangmin Lv, Cong Huang, Peter C. Angeletti, Guohua Hua, Jixin Dong, Jin Zhou, Zhengfeng Wang, Bowen Ma, Xingcheng Chen, Paul F. Lambert, Bo R. Rueda, John S. Davis, Cheng Wang

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

HPV infections are common in healthy women and only rarely cause cervical cancer, suggesting that individual genetic susceptibility may play a critical role in the establishment of persistent HPV infection and the development of cervical cancer. Here, we provide convincing in vitro and in vivo evidence showing that differential expression and activation of YAP1 oncogene determine individual susceptibility to HPV infection and cervical carcinogenesis. We found that hyperactivation of YAP1 in mouse cervical epithelium was sufficient to induce invasive cervical cancer. Cervical epithelial cell-specific HPV16 E6/E7 and YAP1 double-knockin mouse model demonstrated that high-risk HPV synergized with hyperactivated YAP1 to …

Coupling Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations And Statistical Moments For Designing Healthy Indoor Spaces, Shamia Hoque, Firoza B. Omar

Faculty Publications

Cross-contamination between occupants in an indoor space may occur due to transfer of infectious aerosols. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provides detailed insight into particle transport in indoor spaces. However, such simulations are site-specific. This study couples CFD with statistical moments and establishes a framework that transitions site-specific results to generating guidelines for designing “healthy” indoor spaces. Eighteen cases were simulated, and three parameters were assessed: inlet/outlet location, air changes per hour, and the presence/absence of desks. Aerosol release due to a simulated “sneeze” in a two-dimensional ventilated space was applied as a test case. Mean, standard deviation, and skewness of …

2019-03-04-New Biomedical Sciences Funding, University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

Accent [newsletter]

No abstract provided.

Path-Seq Identifies An Essential Mycolate Remodeling Program For Mycobacterial Host Adaptation., Eliza Jr Peterson, Rebeca Bailo, Alissa C Rothchild, Mario L Arrieta-Ortiz, Amardeep Kaur, Min Pan, Dat Mai, Abrar A Abidi, Charlotte Cooper, Alan Aderem, Apoorva Bhatt, Nitin S Baliga

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

The success of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) stems from its ability to remain hidden from the immune system within macrophages. Here, we report a new technology (Path-seq) to sequence miniscule amounts of MTB transcripts within up to million-fold excess host RNA Using Path-seq and regulatory network analyses, we have discovered a novel transcriptional program for in vivo mycobacterial cell wall remodeling when the pathogen infects alveolar macrophages in mice. We have discovered that MadR transcriptionally modulates two mycolic acid desaturases desA1/desA2 to initially promote cell wall remodeling upon in vitro macrophage infection and, subsequently, reduces mycolate biosynthesis upon entering …

Bat Coronaviruses In China, Yi Fan, Kai Zhao, Zheng-Li Shi

KIP Articles

During the past two decades, three zoonotic coronaviruses have been identified as the cause of large-scale disease outbreaks–Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and Swine Acute Diarrhea Syndrome (SADS). SARS and MERS emerged in 2003 and 2012, respectively, and caused a worldwide pandemic that claimed thousands of human lives, while SADS struck the swine industry in 2017. They have common characteristics, such as they are all highly pathogenic to humans or livestock, their agents originated from bats, and two of them originated in China. Thus, it is highly likely that future SARS- or MERS-like coronavirus outbreaks …

A Compartmental Network Model For The Spread Of Whooping Cough, Kimia Ameri

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Outbreaks of pertussis have increased over the past few years, drawing the attention of health care providers. Understanding the transmission mechanisms of contagious disease is critically important, but depends on many intricate factors including pathogen and host environment, exposed population, and their activities. In this work, we try to improve upon the prediction model for the exposed population. The number of whooping cough reported cases in Nebraska between 2000-2017 was gathered. The standard SEIR model is used to predict the infected numbers. The results show that the Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered (SEIR) model prediction for the number of infected individuals is much higher …

Targeted Therapy For The Future: The Use Of Novel Antimicrobial Peptides Against P. Aeurginosa, Matthew Froid

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Pathogenic bacteria, such as the gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are becoming resistant to our current arsenal of antibiotics at an alarming rate. P. aeruginosa is a leading cause of nosocomial acquired infections and is a primary co-morbidity in patients with compromised immune systems. One potential source of new antibiotic agents is antimicrobial peptides. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small proteins, and some have shown a high degree of efficacy and broad-spectrum activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. An experimental AMP that has been developed by Dr. Wang at UNMC, DASamp2, has shown to be effective against virulent bacteria, including P. …

Large Scale Dynamical Model Of Macrophage/Hiv Interactions, Matthew M. Froid

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Properties emerge from the dynamics of large-scale molecular networks that are not discernible at the individual gene or protein level. Mathematical models - such as probabilistic Boolean networks - of molecular systems offer a deeper insight into how these emergent properties arise. Here, we introduce a non-linear, deterministic Boolean model of protein, gene, and chemical interactions in human macrophage cells during HIV infection. Our model is composed of 713 nodes with 1583 interactions between nodes and is responsive to 38 different inputs including signaling molecules, bacteria, viruses, and HIV viral particles. Additionally, the model accurately simulates the dynamics of over …

Tourism And The Developing World: A Comparative Analysis On Socio-Economic Development Between The Dominican Republic And Haiti, Megan Elise Reissig

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

The tourism industry has been growing exponentially throughout the world, both in developed and underdeveloped countries. The industry is normally considered means of economic growth for a destination, however there is much controversy as to whether the social effects are positive or negative. The purpose of this study was to compare strategies of socio-economic development through tourism in select developing countries. In the cases of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, tourism has contributed greatly to economic development, and both countries should continue focussing efforts on tourism for means of economic development. However, they should focus on educating their citizens so …

Practical Pearl: Recurrent Fevers - March 2019, Donna Fisher Md

Pediatrics Practical Pearls: Referral Guidelines for Common Problems

No abstract provided.

Intestinal Parasite Burden And Pre-Departure Treatment Compliance In Kentucky Refugee Children: A Descriptive Study, Collin Russell, Annie H. Rominger

Journal of Refugee & Global Health

Objective: Children are 1/2 of the world’s refugees and often have intestinal parasites. This study seeks to determine the intestinal burden and pre-departure treatment of Kentucky pediatric refugees.

Methods: This is a chart review of Kentucky pediatric refugee health screening data from 2012-2017. Stool culture results from children arriving through refugee camps were compared to non-camp children. They were placed into 3 regional groups and analyzed based on CDC pre-departure treatment recommendations.

Results: Of the 3,199 records, 1,653 had stool testing. 354 (51%) refugee camp children tested positive compared to 326 (33.9%) non-camp children. Giardia and Blastocystis were most commonly …

Solution Of Fractional Sir Epidemic Model Using Residual Power Series Method, Shatha Hasan, Ayat Al-Zoubi, Asad Freihet, Mohammed Al-Smadi, Shaher Momani

Applied Mathematics & Information Sciences

The SIR model with unknown parameters is an important issue for scientists in the study of epidemiology and medical care for the injured people. In this work, an efficient technique based on the generalized Taylor series, called the residual power series method, is applied to solve the SIR epidemic model of fractional order. The fractional derivative is described in the Caputo sense. The use of the residual power series method enables us to get an analytic solution of the SIR model in the form of a convergent power series in addition to the approximate solution. To show the efficiency of …

Informative Group Testing For Multiplex Assays, Christopher R. Bilder, Joshua M. Tebbs, Christopher S. Mcmahan

Department of Statistics: Faculty Publications

Infectious disease testing frequently takes advantage of two tools–group testing and multiplex assays–to make testing timely and cost effective. Until the work of Tebbs et al. (2013) and Hou et al. (2017), there was no research available to understand how best to apply these tools simultaneously. This recent work focused on applications where each individual is considered to be identical in terms of the probability of disease. However, risk-factor information, such as past behavior and presence of symptoms, is very often available on each individual to allow one to estimate individual-specific probabilities. The purpose of our paper is to propose …

Mucormycosis - Dual Therapy With Prolonged Survival, Maydelin Pecchio, Yariela Osabio, Yariela Morales, Forest W. Arnold

Journal of Refugee & Global Health

Mucorales fungal infection is a fungal disease with potentially fatal outcomes. The most frequent involvement in humans comes from the orders known as Mucorales and Entomophthorales. Mucorales is more acute and has a predilection for immunocompromised patients. Mucorales are associated with an affinity for vessels, which leads to invasion and infarction of tissue. Mucormycosis is a devastating complication that can be a life threatening fungal invasion in many patients in an immunocompromised state.

Multistate Hepatitis A Outbreak: Vaccination Of Food Service Workers As Part Of The Kentucky Outbreak Response, Ruth M. Carrico, Dawn Balcom, Delanor Mason, Audria G. Denker, Alyson Holland, Kimberley A. Buckner, Stephen P. Furmanek, Wesley Trail

Journal of Refugee & Global Health

Background: In August 2017, a local outbreak of Hepatitis A was identified among homeless individuals in Louisville, Kentucky. This marked the first cases in what has now become recognized as the largest Hepatitis A outbreak in the US. When infection was identified in a Food Service Worker (FSW), vaccination efforts were expanded to target this group.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe: 1) the processes used to provide access to Hepatitis A vaccine for FSWs, 2) results from the immunization activities, and 3) lessons learned from the outcomes.

Methods: Through a partnership between the Louisville Metro Department …

Letter From The Editor-In-Chief: Journal Of Refugee & Global Health Volume 2 Issue 1, Ruth Carrico

Journal of Refugee & Global Health

No abstract provided.

Edwardsiella Tarda Infection Triggering Acute Relapse In Pediatric Crohn’S Disease, A K Li, M Barton, J A Delport, D Ashok

Paediatrics Publications

Crohn's disease exacerbations can often be associated with bacterial infections causing gastroenteritis. We report a child who experienced exacerbation of his Crohn's disease associated with a positive stool culture for

Burkholderia Multivorans Septicemia In A Pediatric Liver Transplant Patient, Shaun S.C. Ho, Nancy Nashid, Valerie J. Waters, John J. Lipuma, James E.A. Zlosnik, Anthony Otley, Gino R. Somers, Binita M. Kamath

Paediatrics Publications

“Cepacia syndrome”, caused by Burkholderia cepacia complex and often associated with cystic fibrosis, carries a high mortality rate. It is rare for Burkholderia multivorans, a species within the B. cepacia complex, to cause cepacia syndrome even among patients with cystic fibrosis. This is the first reported fatal case of cepacia syndrome caused by B. multivorans occurring in a pediatric liver transplant recipient who does not have cystic fibrosis. We describe the unique characteristics of this pathogen among the non–cystic fibrosis population and the importance of early recognition and treatment.

Assessment Of Cardiac Indices Using M-Mode Echocardiography In Horse With Tachycardia, Mohamed Youssef, Medhat Nassif, Sabry El-Khodery, Maged El-Ashker, Alshimaa Farag

Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of tachycardia associated with abdominal pain in horse with colic on echocardiographic measurements. For this purpose, 20 horses were selected for this study; from which 10 healthy horses were randomly selected (control group), and 10 diseased horses exhibiting the clinical signs of flatulent colic referred to the hospital of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt. Cardiac functions were evaluated using M- mode echocardiography for measurement of the cardiac indices and functions. In horses with flatulent colic, there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in interventricular septal thickness at end- systole (IVSTs), left ventricular internal diameter at end- diastole (LVIDd), left ventricular posterior wall at end-diastole (LVPWd), stroke volume (SV), and ejection fraction (EF) compared with control group. However, there was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in left ventricular volume at end- systole (ESV) in comparison with control group. The results of the present study indicate that evaluation of cardiac indices and functions via echocardiography may be of great benefit for evaluation of clinical outcome of tachycardia associated with abdominal pain in horses.

Pharmacological Studies On Marbofloxacin On Diarrheic Calves, Mohamed El-Sayed, Rasha El- Taysh, Ayat Abd El-Rahman

Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal

One –hundred diarrheic calves were used to differentiate various reasons for calf diarrhea by using rapid diagnostic kits which found the main causative agents for diarrhea occurrence are corona virus (28%), Rota virus (25%), Cryptosporidium (24%) and E. coli (23%), Respectively, in addition to study concurrent use of marbofloxacin (a third generation member of quinolone) in treatment of diarrheic calves infected with E. coli. Then twenty Holstein calves (0-10 days old) in special dairy farm at Damietta Governorate were isolated and divided into two groups, each group contain ten animals. First group was kept as control without any drug. The …

Street And Sidewalk Sanitation, Julia Jackson, Alyssa J. Baker, Cara M. Cavanaugh, Brandt T. Slayton, Rafananda Tejada

ENGS 89/90 Reports

Due to its lack of affordable housing and large homeless population, the city of San Francisco struggles with increasing amounts of human waste on its streets. Our system is, therefore, designed to contain and remove human fecal matter from paved surfaces. The clear dome protects the user and surrounding environment from contamination, while also allowing the user to see the cleaning process and ensure the mess is fully removed. The swiveling high-pressure jets enable the user to dislodge even dried feces efficiently and effectively. The following paper outlines the research, design, analysis, and testing involved in creating the final product.

Dose Dispensing Tool For Pediatric Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, Miza Mwanza, Ebony N. Smith, Jamie H. Au, Wei Wei Buchsteiner

ENGS 89/90 Reports

There are no current second-line antibiotics for children with Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB). Current methods to treat pediatric MDR TB consist of splitting up adult formulated pills in accordance to the WHO’s recommended dosages, which depend on the weight and age of the child. This process is very inconsistent, tedious, and time consuming when using the state-of-the-art tools (kitchen knives, standard pill cutters). Under the sponsorship of Health Advocacy Innovations (HAI), we developed a mechanical tool that makes ingesting pills for child patients more convenient, consistent, and swift. Our dose-dispensing tool cuts pills into quarters, stores 30 pills, dispenses …

Multiple Sclerosis In Pakistan And Need For Multiple Sclerosis Registry, Haris Majid Rajput, Mohammad Wasay, Mazhar Badshah, Muhammad Hassan

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Multiple sclerosis(MS) is an acquired chronic demyelinating disease of central nervous system is a leading cause of non-traumatic disability in young with significant socioeconomic impact. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive review of all available data of MS in Pakistan.

Assessment Of Pneumonia Severity Indices As Mortality Predictors, Connor L. English, Thomas Chandler, Brian E. Guinn, Stephen P. Furmanek, Julio A. Ramirez

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

BACKGROUND

The leading cause of infectious disease death in the United States is community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Several pneumonia severity indices exist and are widely used as tools to assist physicians regarding site of care based on risk of death. However, limited data exists that discerns which of the most commonly used severity scores is the best predictor of mortality across multiple time points. The objective of this study is to determine the best mortality predictor at different time points between four of the most commonly used pneumonia severity scores.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of a prospective, multicenter, population-based, …

A Man With Acute Severe Pneumonia: Case Discussion From The University Of Louisville Hospital, Viswanathan Nagarajan, Srinivas R. Dontineni, Veronica Corcino, Forest W. Arnold

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

No abstract provided.

Current And Future Antiviral Medications To Treat Influenza: Mechanisms Of Action, Julio A. Ramirez

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

No abstract provided.

Duration Of Protection From Live Attenuated Vs. Sub Unit Hsv-2 Vaccines In The Guinea Pig Model Of Genital Herpes: Reassessing Efficacy Using Endpoints From Clinical Trials, David I. Bernstein, Rhonda D. Cardin, Derek A. Pullum, Fernando J. Bravo, Konstantin G. Kousoulas, David A. Dixon

Faculty Publications

© 2019 Bernstein et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Background Although herpes simplex viruses (HSV) are a major target for vaccine development no vaccine is currently licensed. Methods A live attenuated HSV virus vaccine, VC2 was compared to a subunit HSV vaccine, glycoprotein D (gD2) administered with the adjuvant, MPL/Alum using the Guinea pig model of genital herpes. Three doses of intramuscular (IM) vaccine were provided followed by intravaginal challenge …

On A Stochastic 2d Cahn-Hilliard-Navier-Stokes System Driven By Jump Noise, G. Deugoué, T. Tachim Medjo

Communications on Stochastic Analysis

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Big Data By Managed Care Organizations, Bojing Wang, Xiaoying Liu, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

Big data have become available in all kinds of healthcare organizations. The application of big data analytics in Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) has the potential to improve health care, lower costs, save lives, and help to make better-informed decisions. The study illustrated the implication of big data in MCOs. Big data can help MCOs reduce patients’ relevance, analyze specific diseases such as asthma and diabetes. Big data also could help MCOs to reduce cost after collecting data and determined the specific patients’ situation. The implication of big data has benefited MCOs in reducing costs, improving the quality of healthcare care. …

“Designing Conditions For Talented Students To Be Creative, Ethical, And Scientifically Minded”, José M. Torres

Keynotes, Speeches, and Lectures

Abstract

In this keynote speech, I describe three exponential technologies affecting our present and future world and make the case for how these advances in technology require new skills that go beyond content knowledge. Following the description and illustration of exponential technologies, I paint a vivid picture of three former students of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) who can serve as icons for how we can nurture the next generation of creative, ethical, and scientifically minded persons. Through their individual vignettes, I describe how IMSA creates the conditions to nurture the most important skills and predispositions necessary now …